Former Manchester United midfielder Paul Scholes has queried David de Gea's omission from Louis van Gaal's squad and believes the goalkeeper is 'out of order' if he has lost his focus, while Rio Ferdinand insists it is imperative United block a prospective move to Real Madrid.

Scholes was joined by former Red Devils team-mate Ferdinand to run the rule over United's 4-0 victory over Club Bruges in Belgium for BT Sport, a win which secured the club's place in the Champions League group stages.

The duo inevitably came on to the topic of the man between the sticks for Van Gaal and neither are impressed that De Gea is missing from United.

Louis van Gaal has not chosen David de Gea for Manchester United this season due to doubts about his focus

Spain goalkeeper De Gea (right) has been strongly linked with a transfer to Real Madrid across the summer

Rio Ferdinand (left) and Paul Scholes gave their assessment of De Gea's situation as pundits on BT Sport

'How can you lose focus?' Scholes raged. 'That's the thing for me. He is getting paid by this club, it is a brilliant club.

'They paid a lot of money on a young keeper to give him this chance. If the manager is right and says he has lost focus then yeah, I think he is out of order.

'He should be in that team playing. If it wasn't for him last year, they probably wouldn't be in this position tonight so they have to thank him for that.'

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Ferdinand warned that if De Gea gets his way and joins Rafa Benitez's side, it will set a precedent to top players in the future at Old Trafford who have their heads turned by European heavyweights.

'I think it sets the tone,' Ferdinand said. 'I think it tells players you can get out of this club easy. No you can't. If we want you stay and you are one of our better players then you will stay here and play under our conditions. That sets the tone.

'It is disappointing to see it get to this stage. It has become a bit tit-for-tat, there is a lot going on behind the scenes we can't explain because we don't know, but you've got to play him.

Ferdinand thinks Van Gaal (second left) can 'set the tone' for United by standing firm to De Gea

United defeated Club Bruges 4-0 on Wednesday to secure a place in the group stage of the Champions League

'Knowing David like we do, he has been a solid professional for the whole time he has been at Manchester United.

'He has never stepped out of line and I'd be surprised if he has done that. But the manger says so, so we have to abide by that.'

The transfer window in Spain shuts on August 31.

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Paul Scholes says David de Gea is 'out of order' if he has lost focus for Manchester United amid Real Madrid transfer talk